Mechanism for shifting the saws of gang edgers



Jan. 21, 1930.

G. M. PELTON MECHANISM FOR SHIFTING THE SAWS OF GANG EDGERS Filed Aug. 26, 1925' 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 geWZ Peliozz Q MWMw/laM Jan. 21, 1930. G. M. PELTON' 1,744,499

MECHANISM FOR SHIFTING THE SAWS OF GANG EDGERS Filed Aug. 26, 1925 i Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 21, 1930. G. M. PELTON MECHANISM FOR SHIFTING THE SAWS OF GANG EDGERS Filed Aug. 26, 1925 4 Shets-Sheet s fizz/92270.2 eazye W/ elioiz WWMYM% Jan. 21, 1930. a. M. PELTON 1,744,499

MECHANISM FOR SHIFTING THE SAWS OF GANG EDGERS Filed Aug. 26, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 A AU Patented Jan. 21, 1930 GEORGE 111. PELTON, OF MILWAUKEE,

aren't *WISCGNSIN, ASSIGNGR TO THE FILER 6a STOWELL (10., OF MILYVAUKEE, VIISOONSIN, ACORPOBATION OF WISCONSIN IVIECHANZSM FOR SHIFTING THE SAV] S OF GANG EDGERS Application filed August 26, 1925.

This invention relates to improvements in mechanism for shifting the saws of gang edgers.

After a log has been dogged upon a log carriage and sawed into boards in the usual manner, the latter are passed through a machine known as an edger to remove the rough edges of the boards, some of which are provided with bark, and for cutting the boards into the various widths desired. An edger comprises, in general, a shaft or arbor, a plurality of saws mounted on the arbor for rotation therewith and for sliding movementalong the same, suitable mechanism for shifting or positioning the saws along the arbor whereby the boards are cut into various widths and the rough edges of the latter re moved, and live rolls for feeding the lumber through the saws. In edgers designed for heavy work, the saws have considerable weight and for this reason the various means or mechanism for shifting the same have been operated by power to relieve the sawyer of the effortnecessary to shift the saws and to save the time which would otherwise be lost in this way. This power mechanism, which has been used heretofore for shifting the saws, has been satisfactory to a certain degree, but has been more or less complicated and has not been entirely satisfactory as regards simplicity of operation. One of the objects of the present invention, therefore, is to provide improved mechanism of the character referred to which is simplein construction and operation, and by which the saws may be readily shifted along the arbor by power.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention several embodiments thereof are shown in the drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a section on line 11 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a plan view, partly in section, some of the iarts being removed;

Fig. 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Fig.2 some of the parts being removed;

Fig. 1 is a section on line 1- 1 of Fig.

5 is a plan view, partly broken away, of one of the parts;

Serial No. 52,517.

Fig. 6 is a section on line 66 of Fig. 5- Fig. 7 is a section on line '7-7 of Fig. 5 Fig. 8 is a sectional view similar to i 1, showing a modified form;

Fig. 9 is a plan view; Fig. 10 is a sectionon-line 10-40 of Fig.

9; and

Fig. 11 is a section on line 1111 of Fig. 8. The saw 1 is mounted on a shaft or arbor 2 for rotation therewith and for sliding movement along the same, the saw being shift-ed along shaft 2 by means of a member3 having a body portion t loosely mounted on a shaft 5 parallel to shaft 2 and provided with arms 6 and 'F for the purpose hereinafter explained,

the saw being connected to member '3 for movement therewith in a direction parallel to shafts 2 and 5 by means of a connecting piece 8 provided with 'lignum vitae lugs 9 engaging the saw on either sidethereof and pivotally connected by means of a bolt 10 to the lug 11 which may be formed or cast integrally with member 3. A worm nut- 12 issplined on a power shaft 13 and provided with reduced ends 14 journaled in bearing lugs 15 formed integrally with member 3,

collars 16 connected by a cross-piece 17 being fitted over shaft 3 and secured to lugs 15 by means of bolts 18, member 3 thereby acting as a bearing for shaft 13. A housing comprising a lower part 19 and an upper part 20 secured together by means of bolts 21 is loosely arranged upon the reduced ends 14:

'of nut 12 and betweenlugs 15. A shaft 22 having its ends journaled in parts 19 and 20,

as shown in Fig. 1, is provided with a worm gear 23 keyed thereto and arranged in mesh with the worm nut 12. A pinion 24: is loosely mounted on the lower end of shaft 22 and yieldingly held for rotation therewith by means of friction discs 25 also loosely mounted on shaft 22 and arranged on either side of pinion 2 1, the friction-discs and pinion being held in frictional. engagement with each other by means of a disc 26 which may be formed integrally with shaft 22 and a similar'disc '27 fixed by means of a pin 28 for rotation with shaft 22, nuts 29 being threaded upon the lower end of the latter, as shown, to hold the friction discs 25, discs 26 and 27 and pinion 24 in proper frictional engagement with each other. From the foregoing it will be seen that upon rotation of the power shaft 13 shaft 22 and pinion 24 carried by the latter will be rotated on account of their connection with shaft 13 through worm nut 12 and worm gear 23.

Elements or racks 30 and 31 are secured at their ends by means of suitable bolts 32 to brackets 33 at the sides of the machine, racks 30 and 31 being arranged parallel to shaft 5 and for engagement or coaction with pinion 24. Upon rotation of power shaft 13, and tilting movement of the housing for nut 12 and gear 23 about shaft 13 as a center by means of the handle 34 formed integrally with part 20 of the housing, pinion 24 may be caused to mesh with either of the fixed racks 30 or 31 whereby member 3 and saw 1 connected therewith may be caused to move in the corresponding direction along their respective shafts 5 and 2. The pinion 24 is held in neutral )osition with respect to racks 30 and 31, as shown in Fig. 1, by means of springs 35 and 36 arranged upon a bolt 37 extending through a lug 38 formed integrally with the cross-piece 17 and pivotally connected by means of a pin 39 to lugs 40 formed integrally with the upper part 20 of the housing, nuts 40 being threaded upon the upper end of the bolt to hold spring 35 in position on the latter. A cross member 41 is arranged parallel to shaft 13 and connected at its ends to brackets 33 by means of bolts 42, member 41 being provided on its underside with a row of teeth 43 arranged to mesh with similar teeth 44 with which the upper part 20 of the gear housing is provided when the latter is in neutral position, as shown in Fig. 1, teeth 43 and 44 thereby acting to lock member 3 and the saw connected therewith in adjusted position. The parts are so arranged that teeth 44 will move out of mesh with teeth 43 before pinion 24 meshes with either of the racks 30 or 31. A graduated plate 45 may be secured to the upper side of member 41 and a pointer or dial 46 secured to handle 34 by means of screws 47 and arranged to travel over the graduations on plate 45 to indicate the position of the saw along the shaft or arbor 2.

The body portion 4 of member 3 may be provided with a babbitted lining 48 where the same engages shaft 5. WVhen the saw offers a comparatively large amount of resistance to movement along arbor 2, member 3 will tend to rotate bodily about the shaft 5 and bind upon the latter. For the purpose of eliminating this binding action of memher 3 on shaft 5, therefore, the respective ends of arms 6 and 7 which extend laterally from body portion 4 of member 3 on opposite sides thereof are formed to provide shoes 49 and 50 which extend partly around shaft 5 and slide along the latter, the lower portions 51 and 52 of the shoes extending upwardly into longitudinal grooves 53 and 54, respectively, milled in the underside of shaft 5. The faces of shoes 49 and 50 may also be provided with babbitted linings 55 and 56 where the shoes engage shaft 5. The interlocking or interfitting relation between arms 6 and 7 and shaft 5 thereby prevents bodily movement of member 3 about the shaft 5. As shown in Fig. 2, the arm 57 of member 58 connected with saw 59 is adapted and arranged to nest with arm 6 of member 3, body portion 4 of member 3 being provided with an opening 60 to receive arm 57 and permit the latter to pass through member 3 and nest with arm 6 thereof. Arm 7 of member 3, in like manner, is adapted to extend through member 58 and nest with arm 61 thereof. Arm 62 of actuating member 63 for saw 64 will also extend through member 3 and nest with arm 7 thereof, while arm 6 of member 3 will extend through member 63 and nest with arm 65 thereof, as shown in Fig. 2. By forming and arranging the arms of members 6, 58 and 63 so that they nest together, these members are permitted to move into close engagement with each other. It is to be noted, furthermore, that the shoes 49 and 50 at the ends of arms 6 and 7 of member 3 are spaced a considerable distance away from each other along shaft 5, thereby obtaining greater leverage and resistance to bodily movement of member 3 in a plane parallel to shaft. 5. The shoes of the other members 58 and 53 bear the same relation to each other and interlock or interfit with shaft 5 in the same manner and for the same purpose explained above in connection with the shoes 49 and 50 of member 3.

When the sawyer desires to shift saw 1 along arbor 2, he moves handle 34 up or down to cause pinion 24 to mesh with either of the racks 30 and 31. Member 3 and saw 1 connected therewith will thereby be moved in the corresponding direction by the power derived from shaft 13 which is constantly driven in one direction by any suitable means (not shown). If member 3 should engage either of the adjacent members 58 or 63 while pinion 24 is in mesh with either of racks 30 and 31, the pinion will slip completely by reason of its connection with shaft 22 through the friction discs 25. It will thus be seen that pinion 24 is yieldably connected to power shaft 13 so that no damage is done upon continued rotation of the latter when member 3 engages either of the adjacent members 58 or 63 and pinion 24 is in mesh with either of the racks 30 and 31.

By passing the power shaft 13 through member 3 and providing the same with a bearing for this shaft, the latter also acts with arms 6 and 7 to hold member 3 against bodily movement about the shaft 5.

In the modification shown in Figs. 8 to 11, the actuating member 65 for saw 66 comprises a yoke 67 and an arm 68 extending through the latter and arranged at an angle to the same, as shown in Fig. 9, the ends 69 and 70 of arm 68 being formed to provide collars through which shafts 71 and 72 loosely pass. The single arm 68 and shafts 71 and 72 correspond to arms 6 and 7 and shaft 5 in Fig. 2 and act to hold member 65 against bodily movement in a plane through shafts 71 and 72. A power shaft 78 is journaled in lugs 74 formed integrally with yoke 67, caps 7 5 being fitted over shaft 73 and secured to lugs 74 by means of bolts 76. A worm nut 77 is splined on shaft 73 and arranged in mesh with a worm gear 78 fixed to a shaft 79 journaled in housing 80 and provided at its lower end with a pinion 81 arranged to mesh with either of the racks 82 and 83 upon tilting movement of housing 80 in the proper direction about shaft 73 as a center. This part of the mechanism just described is identical to that shown in Figs. 1 to at and described above, and for this reason no further description thereof is deemed to be necessary. Member 65 and saw 66 connected therewith are held in adjusted position by means of a latch 84 pivotally connected at 85 to an actuating handle 86 which may be formed integrally with housing 89, the latch being provided with teeth 8'? arranged to mesh with similar teeth 88 formed on the underside of the cross member 89. Latch 84 is provided with an arm 90 arrange to engage the upper edge of a cross member 91 extending across the machine and arranged parallel to member 89, and a stop 92 arranged to engage the upper side of handle 86, a spring 93 being secured to arm 90 and engaging handle 86 to hold pinion 81 normally in neutral position with espect to racks 82 and 83 and to hold teeth 87 of latch 84 in mesh with teeth 88 of member 89. lVhen it is desired to make an adjustment, arm 90 is moved by the sawyer toward handle 86 against the action of spring 93 to move teeth 87 out of mesh with teeth 88, the housing 80 being then tilted in either direction about sha t 78 as a center to move pinion 81 into mesh with either of the racks 82 and 83 whereby member 65 is caused to Slide along shafts 71 and 72 in the corresponding direction, this being permitted by reason of the fact that worm nut 77 is splined on shaft 73.

The arm 68 of actuating member 65 for saw 66 nests with the arm 94 of the adjacent actuating member 95 for saw 96, as shown, thereby permitting the members and the saws connected thereto to be moved closely together. The angular relation of arm 68 with respect to yoke 67, furthermore, places collars 69 and TO considerable distance apart in. a direction transverse to yoke 67 whereby arm 68 offers greater resistance to bodily movement of member 65 in a plane through shafts 71 and 72.

Only one of the actuating members for the saws and the mechanism for moving the same has been shown and described, but of course the other members are identical therewith and are operated in the same manner. A live roll R, such as is conventionally used, is illustrated in Figure 1.

From the foregoing it will be seen that improved mechanism has been provided for shifting the saws ofgang edgers which. is simple in construction and operation and which may be manufactured at a comparatively small cost.

A preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, but of course the same is susceptible to changes in the size, shape and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

The invention claimed is:

1. In mechanism of the character described, a shaft, a saw mounted thereon and fixed for rotation therewith and for sliding movement along the same, a movable member arranged in engaging relation with said saw for effecting said movement of the latter, a power shaft, a pair of elements fixed against movement with respect to said member in a direction parallel to said first-mentioned shaft, means carried by said member and constantly driven from said power shaft, said means and said elements being supported for relative movement with respect to each other whereby said means may be placed out of en gaging relation with both of said elements or into engaging relation with either of the latter, one element being so related to said means as to be cooperable therewith to cause movement of the saw in one direction along said first mentioned shaft upon rotation of said power shaft, the other element being so related to said means as to be cooperable therewith to cause said saw to move in the other direction along said first mentioned shaft upon rotation of said power shaft, and means for effecting said relative movement of said means and said elements with respect to each other.

2. In mechanism of the character described, a shaft, a saw mounted on said shaft for rotation therewith and for sliding movement along the same, and means for effecting said movement of said saw, said means including a constantly driven rotary member, a pair ofelements fixed against movement with respect to saidsaw in a direction paralmember, and means for effecting said relative movement of said member and said elements with respect to each other.

3. In mechanism of the character described, a shaft, a saw mounted thereon and fixed for rotation therewith and for sliding movement along the same, a movable member arranged in engaging relation with said saw for efiecting said movement of the latter, a power shaft, a worm nut arranged upon said power shaft for rotation therewith and for sliding movement along the same, said nut being fixed against movement with respect to said member in a direction parallel to said first-mentioned shaft, a pair of elements fixed against movement with respect to said member in a direction parallel to said first-mentioned shaft, and means carried by said member and constantly driven from said nut and adapted and arranged for selective engagement with said elements and having a neutral position with respect to the latter whereby said saw may be positioned along said firstmentioned shaft by the power derived from said power shaft.

4. In mechanism of the character described, a shaft, a saw mounted thereon and fixed for rotation therewith and for sliding movement along the same, a movable member arranged in engaging relation with said saw for effecting said movement of the latter, a pair of fixed racks, a pinion associated with said member and adapted and arranged for selective engagement with said racks and having a neutral position with respect to the latter, said racks being so related to said pinion that one racl: is engageable with one side of the pinion and the other rack is engageable with the opposite side of the pinion, means for rotating said pinion, and means for selectively engaging said pinion with said racks whereby said member may be moved in either direction to position said saw along said shaft.

5. In mechanism of the character described, a shaft, a saw mounted thereon and fixed for rotation therewith and for sliding movement along the same, a movable member arranged in engaging relation with said saw for effecting said movement of the latter, a pair of fixed racks, a pinion associated with said member and adapted and arranged for selective engagement with said racks and having a neutral position with respect to the latter, said racks being so related to said pinion that one rack is engageable with one side of the pinion and the other rack is engageable with the opposite side of the pinion, means for rotating said pinion, means associated with said pinion for yieldingly holding the same in operative relation with said last-mentioned means for rotation thereby, and means for selectively engaging said pinion with said racks whereby said member may be moved in either direction to position said saw along said shaft.

6. In mechanism of the character described, a shaft, a saw mounted on said shaft for rotation therewith and for sliding movement along the same, a movable member arranged in engaging relation with said saw for effecting said movement thereof, a pair of fixed elements arranged parallel to said shaft, a second shaft carried by said member and mounted for movement with respect thereto into operative relation with either of said elements, one of said elements coacting with the second shaft from one side thereof and the other element coacting with the second shaft from the other side thereof whereby movement of said saw is effected in either direction along said first-mentioned shaft, and means for rotating said second shaft.

7. In mechanism of the character described, a shaft, a saw mounted on said shaft for rotation therewith and for sliding movement along the same, a movable member arranged in engaging relation with said saw for effecting said movement thereof, a pair of fixed elements arranged parallel to said shaft, a second shaft carried by said member and mounted for movement with respect thereto into operative relation with either of said elements, one of said elements coacting with the second shaft from one side thereof and the other element coacting with the second shaft from the other side thereof whereby movement of said saw is effected in either direction along said first-mentioned shaft, and means for rotating said second shaft, said means comprising a power shaft, a worm nut mounted on said power shaft for rotation therewith and for longitudinal movement with respect thereto, and a worm gear carried by said second shaft and arranged in mesh with said nut,

8. In mechanism of the character described, a shaft, a saw mounted on said shaft for rotation therewith and for sliding movement along the same, a grooved shaft ar ranged parallel to said first-mentioned shaft, a member having a body portion loosely mounted on said grooved shaft for sliding movement along the latter and provided with an arm adapted for interlocking engagement with the same whereby said arm acts to hold said member against bodily movement in a plane parallel to said grooved shaft, means for connecting said saw to said member for movement therewith, a power shaft, means affording the power shaft a bearing on said member and means operable from said power shaft for selectively moving said member in either direction along said shaft.

9. In mechanism of the character described, a shaft, saws mounted on said shaft for rotation therewith and for sliding movement along the same, a grooved shaft arbe engageable with the opposite sides of the ranged parallel to said first-mentioned shaft, p1n1on whereby to move the shifting memmembers having body portions mounted on said grooved shaft for slidmg movement along the latter and arms adapted ture.

for interlocking engagement with the same whereby said arms act to hold said members against bodily movement in planes parallel to said grooved shaft, said arms being adapted and arranged to nest with each other to permit engagement with each other of the body portions of adjacent members, and means connecting said saws to said members formovementtherewith,a power shaft, means on each member affording its member a bearing on the power shaft, and means associated with each member and with the power shaft for selectively moving its member in either direction along said power shaft.

10. In mechanism of the character described, a shaft, a saw mounted on said shaft for rotation therewith and for sliding movement along the same, a movable member arranged in engaging relation with said saw for effecting said movement thereof, and means for effecting movement of said member in either direction including a power shaft, a pinion, means for mountin the pinion for swinging movement, means for driving the pinion from the power shaft in any adjustment of the pinion and a pair of fixed racks with which the opposite sides of the pinion is selectively cooperable, said member being provided with a bearing for said lastmentioned shaft.

11. In a mechanism of the character described a shifting member adapted to engage asaw, means for constraining the shifting member to sliding movement, a power shaft, a gear element splined on the power shaft and interconnected with the shifting member to impart its axial movement thereto, a pinion, means for mounting the pinion for swinging movement, means for connecting the pinion with the gear element whereby the pinion is driven from the gear element, and a pair of fixed racks with which the pinion is selectively engageable, said racks being so positioned as to be engageable with the opposite sides of the pinion whereby to move the shifting member in either direction.

12. In a mechanism of the character described a shifting member adapted to engage a. saw, means for constraining the shifting member to sliding movement, a power shaft, a gear element splined on the power shaft and interconnected with the shifting member to impart its axial movement thereto, a pinion, means for mounting the pinion for swinging movement, means includlng a slip connection for connecting the pinion with the gear element whereby the pinion is driven from the gear element, and a pair of fixed racks with which the pinion is selectively engageable, said racks being so positioned as to loosely her in either direction.

In witness whereof I hereto affix my signa- GEORGE M. PELTON. 

